This mid-weight city commuter has a fun and easy ride, lots of useful integrated tech for those who want to use it, and a simplified experience for those who don’t.
The Trek FX+ 1S is a weird bike.
Not because of funny looks or strange behaviors; as lightweight city e-bikes go, the FX+ 1 looks and feels the part. Instead, the bike is unusual due to a single feature that may not immediately stand out when comparing it to similarly equipped models from other brands.
Unlike previous e-bikes from Trek, which were limited to pedal-assist only, the FX+1S (like its somewhat slower sibling, the FX+ 1) comes equipped with a throttle.
Here at Electric Bike Report, we’ve long espoused the virtues of throttles. Whether of the half-twist or thumb variety, they allow riders an easy way to get moving. They also offer the opportunity to take a break from pedaling—or simply relax and enjoy the ride while the motor does all the hard work.
Like similar global bike companies, Trek built its foundation on decades of analog bike production. While it embraced adding batteries and electric motors to its bikes, the company encouraged the traditional experience of active pedaling by previously producing only Class 1 and 3 e-bikes, despite the increasing popularity of throttle-equipped Class 2s.
Thus, the FX+ 1S marks a turning point—but the throttle wasn’t the only uncommon feature we found and appreciated on the bike. It’s decked out with a powerful 500W motor, an uncommonly large battery, and even a tail light with brake lights and integrated turn signals.
Based on our previous experiences with other Trek e-bikes in the FX+, Allant+, Marlin+, and Verve+ lines, we anticipated that the FX+ 1S would be well-constructed. We also expected it would be engineered for comfort, user-friendliness, and responsiveness. We were not disappointed.
We put the bike through our series of standardized Speed, Range, Brake, and Hill Tests to measure its performance against similar city and urban e-bikes we’ve tested. See our full review below to discover how it compares!
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